WRC Rally Argentina: Issue on SS2 cost me win chance - Ostberg

Mads Ostberg: It was disappointing to lose 45sec with a technical problem [in SS2] but we know the gap at the end, so that is encouraging.

Mads Ostberg reckons he would "definitely" have been fighting for the victory on Rally Argentina, if it wasn't for that technical issue early on.

Ostberg had to settle for the runners-up in the end, finishing 18.1 seconds off Citroen team-mate, Kris Meeke. However, he lost over 40s in SS2 on Friday, when his DS 3 WRC ground to a halt mid-stage.

It was the only mechanical problem the Norwegian had all event and despite also not feeling well, he posted top-five times in every other test, peaking with four second best times and three thirds, including in the Power Stage, which netted him an extra point.

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Ostberg now moves up to second in the Drivers' Championship, one point ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen and 33 points behind Sebastien Ogier.

"It has been a really hard weekend for me because I have not been feeling well. But we have worked hard and we would definitely have been fighting for the victory if we hadn't had a problem on SS2," Ostberg said.

"Of course it was disappointing to lose 45sec with a technical problem but we know the gap at the end, so that is encouraging.

"[Overall] it has been nice to be here and I am very happy to see that the car is so strong and that we can succeed on a rally like this.

"The character of the rally is very good, though the conditions of the roads are bad but the organisation has nothing to do with that.

"The weather is the weather."

Ostberg also added that the one-two bodes well for Citroen for the rest of the season as they look to take the fight to Volkswagen.

"It is a fantastic result for the whole team and obviously very encouraging for the rallies to come. We came hoping to fight for place on the podium, but finishing with the two DS 3 WRC first and second is a great performance.

"The DS brand has given us a huge amount of support, so I am pleased we have been able to bring home a result like this."